Popcorn love spans generations

 

                        My mom had a metal canister of Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn with a general store theme. She loved that brand “gourmet popping corn” as it was considered the best. The namesake with the bowtie was a food scientist who worked with hybrids and became the “face” of popcorn.

         Orville Redenbacher’s General Store is pictured in one panel of the container. Two men are playing checkers with a large bowl of popped corn on the table. One vested gent looks on and a dog is resting under the table. The brown tin’s other side shows two children sharing a bag of popcorn just served up at the counter while a mother and daughter enter the store in the background. You can smell that fresh, just-popped batch.

                        Mom made popcorn in a pan on the stove the way my Aunt Gladys taught her. We had it rarely. In college the microwave bags were popular and that was a go-to.

I skipped the whole Jiffy Pop era.

                        Now I love my air popper. For my best healthy version I eat it dry or maybe with a light spray of olive oil and a dusting of cayenne or garlic. Try sprinkling it with red wine vinegar if you dare.

                        I decided I was finally willing to pare down my kitchen décor and put the Redenbacher’s tin in the church garage sale. Of the thousands of items spread out on tables that day, a most esteemed – and stylish – lady of the church came up to me with that tin and asked if I remembered the brand and the containers.

                        Mom, I hope you heard that!

                        “The Gingerbread Party” – Did your last cookbook come with blueprints? Prep for the holidays with Courtney Dial Whitmore’s book (with Phronsie Dial). The author’s family has created gingerbread houses, trains and edible communities that will turn heads. She’ll convince you to try your hand at these photogenic creations. Maybe a gingerbread martini will give you some motivation. Most projects are for the family, or maybe for a few adults to head up and little ones and neighbors to marvel upon. Here’s one thing I know you can handle: Tie long red ribbons to your chandelier for a holiday look.

A spread shows little Christmas tree bites on a tray with a crystal bowl of a white spread in the middle. It resembles shortbread and a creamy spread, but I love this: We’re looking at Rosemary and Parmesan Shortbread with Whipped Goat Cheese. Drizzle that spread with Hot Honey seasoned with red pepper flakes and apple cider vinegar.

Darragh Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who would eat popcorn for breakfast, lunch and dinner. She hears it makes a great snack, too. Share foodie tips via panews@panews.com.

Did someone say chocolate?

                      Chocolate tasting party? Who wouldn’t give a quick and positive R.S.V.P. to that?

                      Blocks and rounds and rubs and sauces are in the pages of The Cocoa Exchange order catalog. A table spread out with nibbles of dips and spreads and for bread and chicken all paired well with chicken salad croissants and wine the hostess served at a party I attended.

                      Debbie Henagan of Suphur, La., represented the products that spoke for themselves. She gave a few sentences on how she became involved, the perks of being in control and then the guests were on their own to browse the pages of her book. Women kept dashing back to the serving table to check what was that little bite of heaven called. Did I mention the evening began with a chocolate martini, topped with chocolate shavings?

                      I’ve attended parties for candles, baskets, stamps and jewelry. This was the most low-pressure and pleasant experience of all. I mingled with women happy to discuss the pleasures of cocoa beyond the popular bags at the grocery store checkout line.

                      I’m anticipating delivery of a jar of white chocolate raspberry honey mustard for dips with pretzels, braised vegetables, glazing chicken or pork or used as a marinade.

                      I expect my bottle of fig balsamic vinaigrette with white chocolate will be with me a long time, as a little bit goes a long, luxurious way.    Why have  a party? Micha Katherine Leigh, a Port Arthur hostess, shares her motivation:   "When I first met Debbie at the LiveWell conference, I was intrigued about her in-home chocolate experience. I signed on immediately! It was great fun and the products are delicious!"

                      Get in touch with Henegan at debbiehenagan@me.com or www.mytcesite.com/Debbie Henagan to organize one of these fetes.

              The Little Kernel

                      Little Kernel looks is an adventurer who popped to toe top of his class because of his insatiable desire for exploration.

                      Like snack foods to have a back story? Little Kernel is also into altruism, and makers of this character's popcorn support Generation Rescue, for families affected by Autism spectrum disorders.

                      Snacking is the kernel's first order, so let me tell you, these tiny, flavorful pops are made with olive oil and you just kind of feel good after eating them. They are very tiny and perhaps a bit more crunchy than your typical popcorn. And light.

                      It's a kinder, gentler snack in the sense that I consider popcorn as a good-for-you food that could be taken to the extreme. The Little Kernel keeps everything in healthy balance. Follow his orders.

                      darraghcastillo@icloud.com